Overpriced? Big event overload? Sports fans are tapped out for cash after the Christmas season?

Whatever the reason, fans don’t appear to be clamouring to attend Sunday’s Centennial Classic at BMO Field where the Maple Leafs will take on the Detroit Red Wings.

As of Thursday morning, hundreds of good seats are still available at BMO Field in all but the “cheapest” of price ranges. Furthermore, according to the Ticketmaster website — the official portal to buy tickets — blocks of has many as six seats together are available in multiple sections throughout the stadium.

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Reports on Rogers radio and TV stations over the past 24 hours have announced that “tickets have just been released.” But despite the urging of the NHL broadcasting rights holder, it appears that it’s not just new blocks of seats that have been made available.

The cheapest seats that remain are the second from the bottom of the original price scale and go for a hefty $229, plus service charges. League officials claim they are still expecting a sellout, though it appears that will require a late push.

Even with the strong play of the Leafs of late — they won their third in a row Wednesday in Tampa and are now just three points out of playoff spot — there are multiple reasons the game is having trouble selling out.

Price is surely a factor with tickets still available in the $229, $299, $329, $349, $369 and $399 categories. With the world junior championship ongoing at the Air Canada Centre — including Team Canada games Thursday and Saturday — there’s plenty of hockey available.

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A pair of the cheapest remaining tickets would cost $500, prior to taxes.

As well, the Centennial Classic comes just three years after the Leafs met the Wings in the Winter Classic at iconic Michigan Stadium before more than 110,000 fans. Even with better sight lines at BMO Field, it will be difficult to match the magic of that experience. Sitting in the cold at the Big House is one thing, sitting in the cold at a stadium built for soccer is another.

Then there is the money Toronto-area sports fans have been spending on events here over the past eight months including the Raptors run to the NBA’s Eastern Conference final, the Blue Jays making it to the American League Championship series, the World Cup of Hockey, the Grey Cup and the MLS Cup.

The Leafs and the NHL have marketed the game as a special event around the 100th anniversary of the league, hence the title. But the uniqueness of outdoor NHL hockey may be starting to wane with four games on the docket this season.

Festivities for the Centennial Classic get under way Friday with the Wings scheduled to practice at BMO Field. The Leafs will have their practice over the temporary ice surface on Saturday prior to a game between alumni from both the Wings and Leafs.